Posted by
Stakeholder on Thursday, March 22, 2007 4:10:15 PM
How do you leverage the things you’ve done in the past for what you want to do in the future?
A friend, raised that question to me recently when we were talking about reinventing yourself.
In looking over my road map of life, over my 30-plus-year career, I have been a classical musician, pastor, educator, program manager, church relational development manager, development consultant, International traveler and teacher, CEO and business strategist. You know the sort: A polymath that’s good at so many things...now if I can only make the income that is necessary!
More than that, though, I think I have come to know the secret to career change and reinvention in our stages of life. It’s that reinventing ourselves it isn't a fairy tale where the ugly duckling suddenly molts into a swan. We use those parts of our pervious chapters to strengthen our transformational living as we move over our paths of life.
It’s important to realize that when you change (transform), our life, careers, you’re not suddenly person Y when before you were person X it is a process! Don’t think simple addition but a synergistic melding of all your selves that ideally reinvigorates your personal brand. In light of our faith walk it can be simply explained as: the human will and the Holy Spirit work together (synergistically melding) to bring about spiritual regeneration or salvation!
I can say that it has been an adventure for these 30 plus years on this serial career path because it has added depth, complexity, fun and creativity to my character, I hope. The core key thankfully is to not live for yourself. By my not living for myself it has made the previous parts worth the pain and process and reminding me that in order to continue living fully in each chapter to daily surrender the process of life to God. Maturity it isn't painless though, but it is worth it to live life through this journey. I also think it has allowed me to approach problem solving with a multidimensional view through His wisdom.
Which brings us back to our original question. What have you done in the past that can enhance your personal brand? Remember, you’re more than the sum of your parts by living by Faith in Him. You’re an evolving, transformational person who is in the act of change that can impact the marketplace of ideas and has the edge over the worlds methods because it doesn’t have the same source code as your life! As my new adage goes, you’re not getting older, just diving into the best part of life!